The 2025 US Open was truly a rollercoaster affair. The four-day event saw surprises right from the opening day on April 23. From landslide upsets like Kyle Dake having his first fall in 7 years to a fellow countryman to high school phenom Marcus Blaze turning heads, it had everything. But perhaps among all the upsets, one stood out the most, and that was the 61 kg finals. After all, we saw the rise of the high school prodigy Jax Forrest. And the man he defeated? Veteran Seth Gross. But what did Gross have to say?
Well, for that, we might need to go back to April 28. Straight from the Fight Capital of the World, Seth sent a single tweet. What was it about, you say? The aftermath of his defeat to Jax. The image showed him kneeling on the Las Vegas mat, head bowed in his Midwest Wrestling Club singlet—white with yellow and red accents—reflecting on a grueling battle.
Gross had fought hard to reach the final, securing a fall against Marcus Blaze and a 6-3 decision over Austin DeSanto. But in the championship match, he faced Jax Forrest. Forrest initially trailed Gross 2-0 but quickly turned the match around. After a review confirmed Gross led 6-2, Forrest dominated with multiple takedowns and exposures, tying it 6-6, then taking a 12-6 lead by the break.
In the second period, Forrest extended his lead with more takedowns and a step-out point, ultimately securing a 19-8 technical victory over Gross. The result was a stark upset, with Forrest’s dominance highlighting the rise of the sport’s next generation. Gross’s words—“Didn’t get what I came for. But I got what I needed. God’s plan, my fight”—speaks to a resilience rooted in faith, a trait that has defined his career.
Didn’t get what I came for.
But I got what I needed.
God’s plan, my fight.
I’m not done yet. pic.twitter.com/luKXJ7B06q
— Seth Gross (@GodsWrestler133) April 28, 2025
Will he return to the US Open in 2026 to reclaim the 61 kg title, or perhaps set his sights on international competition to reassert his dominance on the global stage? What are his thoughts on retirement? Well, despite this loss, he fights back. Gross’s words—“I’m not done yet”—ring with determination, showcasing the grit that has defined his career. Gross made it clear he’s not ready to step away from the mat.
The 31-year-old, a 2018 NCAA champion from South Dakota State and third-place finisher at the 2020 Big Ten Championships with the Wisconsin Badgers, has always leaned on his faith to navigate wrestling’s ups and downs. His X post reflects a belief that this defeat, while not the US Open title he sought, served a greater purpose.
Gross calls out the unrealistic expectation of Wrestlers
Well, Gross talked about the retirement earlier in the month as well. On April 11, 2025, Gross took to X to challenge the wrestling community’s retirement culture, a topic that’s long been a sore spot for lifers in the sport. He wrote, “Telling wrestlers to retire after college is one of the dumbest things we do in this sport. We’ve built this weird culture where if you’re not making world teams every year, it’s time to ‘move on.’
Seth Gross is calling out the unrealistic expectation that only the top wrestler—the one who secures the single world team spot—deserves to continue, a mindset he finds absurd. He continued, “Only ONE guy gets the spot. So, every other elite wrestler should just quit? That’s wild. Still healthy? Still hungry? Keep going. Wrestling isn’t just for champs. It’s for lifers.”
At 29, Seth Gross, who lost to Jax Forrest in the US Open final, embodies this philosophy, refusing to let a single defeat define his career. His stance pushes back against a toxic culture that pressures wrestlers to step away prematurely. How does his recent performance at the US Open tie into this powerful perspective?
The post “Not Done Yet”: Wrestling Champion Vows to Fight Back After Heartbreaking US Open Defeat appeared first on EssentiallySports.
